Madonna

Mike Chait here. Hugh is up on the mountain getting the goods at the moment, but I thought I’d take the opportunity to post these updates on his behalf. Mother Nature has been conspiring yet again with her buddy Ullr to deliver another fresh dump of the white stuff. This was another elevational storm, hitting with wet, heavy snow particularly hard above 2800′. Right now, we’re looking at another 8-10″ on top of Sterling and are awaiting the report from the summit of Madonna!

Long-term weather forecasts are predicting an above average snowfall this season, so we’re right on track for an awesome December! Also, this is your friendly reminder that Halloween is the Pass/Badge deadline, so get yours before the price bump for an even more affordable shred season!

More fresh snow for October! Happy faces everywhere!

Be sure to check out this video from today. It will most definitely get you itching to get out there!

After a beautiful weekend full of blue skies and warmer temperatures the weather decided to change. The forecast called for rain today with temperature between 38 and 45 degrees. The temperature at the summit of Madonna was 25 degrees this afternoon at 2:00 pm. The colder temperatures turned the rain into freezing rain on the top half the upper mountains. I hope the colder temperatures will turn the freezing rain into snow earlier than predicted. The forecast for tonight is calling for snow developing around midnight with up to 3 inches of new snow on top by tomorrow morning. Snow is in the forecast for tomorrow morning also with another 1 to 2 inches of accumulation possible with temperatures between 19 and 32 degrees. For Tuesday weather permitting we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 5 lifts operating and 34 trails open. 30 trails will be groomed for Tuesday that’s 147 acres.

The sunrise service was fantastic this morning with clear skies, no wind, and mild temperatures. We had a great turn out with 264 people attending. It was just so pretty with the moon over Mount Mansfield. The sun worked its magic and there was corn snow everywhere. Spring fever is here and it is contagious! I had so much fun today with my son Hugh B, daughter Hayleigh, my wife Harley, and good friends Lindsey, Kiri, and Nancy. We did an on mountain Easter Egg Hunt. The kids kept finding plastic colored eggs filled with candy on the side of the trail.

Airing it out on Upper Exhibition

For Monday we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 5 lifts operating, including the Madonna I Lift and 35 trails open. 27 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, that’s 138 acres. The forecast for tomorrow is rain with temperatures between 38 and 45 degrees. The rain is supposed to turn to snow on Monday night and we could see up to 5 inches of accumulation on top by Tuesday night.

The day started off with cloudy skies, except for the top of Madonna Mountain and Mount Mansfield. I want to thank my good friend and Smuggs employee Jeremy Corkins for sending me this great picture of Mount Mansfield seen from Madonna Mountain. I love it when the peaks of mountains look like islands and the clouds are the ocean. It was a great day to be out on the mountains today. I was lucky enough to spend it with family and great friends. We had so much fun taking in the amazing views from the chair lifts and playing in all the corn snow.

Tomorrow is going to be a repeat of today and I can’t wait. We have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 7 lifts operating and 37 trails open. 29 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, that’s 147 acres. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies with temperatures between 37 and 48 degrees. Easter Sunrise Service is tomorrow morning. The Sterling Lift will be operating from 6:00 am till 6:30 am.

Rockin’ Ron for Hugh. Dueces were wild this Tuesday! I rode the Madonna 2 Lift for only the second time this season (M1 has been running almost every day I’ve been on the Upper Mountains this winter). I heard 2 skiers on the chair ahead of me singing “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and saying hi to the Lifties and people skiing on the slopes below. I told them I liked their attitude and asked if I could take a picture of them for the Blog. Without hesitating, Annie and Grace said yes! Later, after a couple of runs, I popped into the Black Bear for a bowl of Veggie Chili. Smuggs sensational Acoustic Duo of Goodtime Charlie and Jammin’ Sam were performing a special apres show for Canadian Week. They are just TOO good! That’s all 4 now, I’ve got 2 go.

This is Harley Johnson, filling in for Hugh Johnson. Today was AMAZING with 6 inches of new snow on top of Madonna. My sister Cathy and I dropped the kids off at Mini Mites and Mitey Mites and then headed to Sterling Mountain. While standing at the top of Upper Exhibition we joined up with our good friend Tony, and skied with him until it was time to pick the kids back up from Mitey Mites. I have not skied the Black Hole in a while and wow was it awesome. Tony is pictured here getting after it in the new snow. We may have skied a different trail on every run. We kept finding fresh snow everywhere.

This morning was pretty cool with flurries. Then the sun came out and warmed things up a little. We received 7 inches of new snow in the past 3 days, which made a big difference. I got to ski with the family today, all 3 kids and my wife Harley. We skied out on to Sterling Pond to take in all the amazing views. My daughters Hannah and Hayleigh had never been on the Pond before and they thought it was really cool. We took a run on Thomke’s, the kids loved the hairpin turns and ice flows. We also had fun in the Birch Run Terrain Park. After a hot chocolate break we headed for the top of Madonna Mountain. The lift ride up was just gorgeous. We hung out on top for a little while checking out all the other mountains you can see from the summit of Madonna Mountain. We then took a nice long cruiser on Chilcoot. A great day t0 be out on the mountain making memories.

Mount Mansfield seen from Sterling Pond

Family Fun

Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating and 65 trails open. 36 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Upper FIS for a grand total of 168 acres. Tomorrow’s forecast is partly sunny skies early with increasing clouds later and temperatures between 17 and 28 degrees.

We now have 5 lifts operating and 34 trails open. The Madonna I Lift is now operating with Upper Chilcoot, Link, and Lower Madonna Liftline open. The Village Lift and Mogul Mouse’s Magic Lift are now both open to the top. Last night we made snow on Upper Chilcoot, Waterfall, Midway, Sam’s Run, and Meadowlark. 16 trails will be groomed tonight for a grand total of 91 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Rockin’ Ron for Hugh. To paraphrase Hugh “It was another beautiful day at Smuggs”. The sun was shining, the air was fresh & crisp, and the turns were exhilarating. I saw signs of snowmaking everywhere: Lower Liftline on Madonna, Lower Liftline on Morse, and Black Snake on Sterling. In fact, I spotted more whales (snowmaking piles) than they have at Sea World – and I didn’t even sea ’em all! Don’t quote me, but I hear rumors that Madonna could have lift operations in the near future. Back on Sterling, I rode the lift with Andrew Shaw who wasn’t going to let a recent arm injury keep him off the slopes. Andrew has been skiing at Smuggs since he was 5 years old, now he’s working here as a bartender at the Black Bear Tavern. I witnessed Kendal racing down a slalom course on Lower Rumrunner with her SNSC (Smugglers’ Notch Ski and Snowboard Club) team mates. I traded hellos with Patrollers Mike Duncan and Arch. I shared a joke with Kathleen at the Ticket Booth. All in all, twas a good day to be Snow Reporter.

The Madonna I lift and Sterling Lift will be operating for closing day. We have 44 trails open with terrain for experts and intermediates. The conditions are just fantastic with great coverage and corn snow everywhere. I took advantage of the Madonna I lift operating today and made Upper FIS my first run. Pictured here is Greg Fatigate tearing up Upper FIS. Greg is a Snow Sport University Snowboard Instructor, Snow Sport University Training Manager, and Smuggs Park Groomer. Tomorrow’s forecast is mostly sunny skies with temperatures between 41 and 52 degrees. I’m really looking forward to one of the best closing days that I can remember.

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Hugh Johnson

Hello skiers and riders! Thanks for checking out my blog. I've been skiing Smuggs since I was a young 'un, when my family moved to Vermont and made the resort a temporary home base. Full circle — now I'm introducing my own family to the mountain! Each day you'll find an entry and photo on mountain conditions and happenings, highlighting the great terrain we have spread over three mountains and the awesome adventures that skiers and riders of all ages can have out there! You'll also hear from Rockin' Ron Carter a couple days during the week. Maybe you'll spot him on his favorite run — Pirate's Plank on Sterling Mountain. We'll be out there on the slopes, and hope to see you — thanks for skiing and riding Smuggs!